Dragons reveal team to face the Ospreys on Saturday
Dragons head coach Filo Tiatia has made seven changes for tomorrow's United Rugby Championship derby against the Ospreys at Swansea.com Stadium, including a recall for Dan Lydiate who will play his final game of professional rugby on Welsh soil.
The former Wales and British & Irish Lions flanker, who will retire at the end of the season, starts at seven after coming off the bench during last Saturday's Judgement Day defeat by the Scarlets at the Principality Stadium.
Wales U20s star Harry Rees-Weldon, who recently signed a new contract with the club, will make his debut on the wing, meanwhile Will Reed is set to make his 50th Dragons appearance from the bench.
Elsewhere in the backs, there are starts for Joe Westwood in the centre, while Che Hope and Huw Anderson return to the bench.
In the pack, Rhodri Jones, Brodie Coghlan and Chris Coleman are an all-change front row with Joe Davies replacing the injured Ben Carter to partner Ryan Woodman, while George Young comes onto the bench in the place of Taine Basham.
Lydiate isn't the only one heading back to his former stomping ground with head coach Tiatia returning to take on the side for whom he played 99 times during a glittering playing career.
'It's a great opportunity for us," said Tiatia. "We're under no illusion of what Ospreys bring, and the style they play - a strong set-piece, very good scrum, their collision work is very good.
"We've got to get our processes right and stay in the game and win moments, similar to what we did against the Scarlets,
'We've been working on our discipline and making sure that we don't give Ospreys opportunities in our 22.
'We're really clear on, the couple of areas we need to work on and then try and execute it on Saturday afternoon.'
Dragons RFC: Ewan Rosser; Harry Rees-Weldon, Joe Westwood, Aneurin Owen (CAPT), Jared Rosser; Angus O'Brien, Rhodri Williams; Rhodri Jones, Brodie Coghlan, Chris Coleman, Joe Davies, Ryan Woodman, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Dan Lydiate, Aaron Wainwright.
Replacements: Elliot Dee, Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, Nathan Evans, Barny Langton-Cryer, George Young, Che Hope, Will Reed, Huw Anderson.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
Lions Keenan and Furlong miss Leinster's URC final
United Rugby Championship final - Leinster v Bulls Venue: Croke Park, Dublin Date: Saturday, 14 June Kick-off: 17:00 BST Coverage: Live text coverage on BBC Sport website & app British and Irish Lions Tadhg Furlong and Hugo Keenan will play no part in Leinster's United Rugby Championship final against the Bulls on Saturday. Both tight-head prop Furlong and full-back Keenan have been dealing with calf complaints, although fellow Lions Garry Ringrose and Josh van der Flier are fit to start against the visiting South Africans. Advertisement The fixture in Croke Park is the last game before Andy Farrell's full party for the tour of Australia assemble and will be played six days before the first game against Argentina at the Aviva Stadium on 20 June. Furlong, 32, has struggled with injuries all season, last featuring in Leinster's Investec Champions Cup semi-final loss to Northampton on 3 May and made just nine appearances in 2024-25 for his province and Ireland. Keenan, 29, did start Leinster's URC quarter-final against Scarlets on 31 May but missed out against Glasgow Warriors in the semi-finals a week later. Flanker Van der Flier, who had a hamstring injury, also last featured against the Scarlets, while Garry Ringrose will be making his first appearance since 10 May against Zebre after a calf issue. Advertisement The pair are the only changes made by Leo Cullen after the semi-final victory against the Warriors last week, meaning that 10 Lions will be on show in Dublin. James Lowe, Jamison Gibson-Park, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan and Jack Conan all also start while Ronan Kelleher is on the bench. The Bulls make one change from their semi-final victory over Sharks with Marco van Standen coming in at flanker to replace the injured Cameron Hanekom and former Ulster back-row Marcell Coetzee switching from blind-side to number eight. Leinster are aiming for a ninth URC victory but a first since 2021, while the Bulls are seeking a first title having been beaten in two finals in their four seasons in the competition. Line-ups Leinster: J O'Brien; T O'Brien, Ringrose, Barrett, Lowe; Prendergast, Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, Clarkson, McCarthy, Ryan, Baird, Van der Flier, Conan (captain) Advertisement Replacements: Kelleher, Boyle, Slimani, Snyman, Deegan, McGrath, R Byrne, Osborne. Bulls: Le Roux; Moodie, Kriel, Vorster, De Klerk; Goosen, Papier; Wessels, Grobbelaar, Louw, Wiese, Van Heerden, Van Standen, Nortje (captain), Coetzee. Replacements: Van der Merwe, Tshakweni, Smith, Kiersten, Carr, Burger, Johannes, Williams.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
Beckham, Bale, Bellingham – Trent adds to list of British players to join Madrid
Trent Alexander-Arnold has been publicly presented as a Real Madrid player after leaving Liverpool following the expiration of his contract. Here, the PA news agency looks at the Spanish giants' previous high-profile British signings. Laurie Cunningham (1979-84) England winger Cunningham lit up the Bernabeu after his move from West Brom (PA) The winger became the first British professional player to move to the Bernabeu after Los Blancos agreed a £950,000 deal with West Brom in 1979. The Londoner helped the side to a league and cup double in his first season but that proved the peak as injuries blighted the remainder of his time at the club. Steve McManaman (1999-2003) McManaman was one of the first big-name English players to exploit the Bosman ruling when he quit Liverpool to join Real on a free transfer. He won the Champions League twice – scoring a memorable goal in a player-of-the-match display against Valencia in the 2000 final – as well as LaLiga on two occasions. David Beckham (2003-07) David Beckham's fortunes in Madrid were mixed (Nick Potts/PA) Beckham and Real Madrid seemed a match made in heaven, but the anticipated glut of trophies did not follow. Things turned sour after Fabio Capello took over as manager in 2006 and, amid contract wrangling, the England captain was frozen out. That pushed him to agree a move to LA Galaxy but there was to be a happy ending as he was recalled for the run-in and played a pivotal role as Real claimed the league crown. Michael Owen (2004-05) The England forward spent a single season at the Bernabeu after Liverpool agreed to a cut-price £8million sale after tiring of months of contract negotiations. But he did not settle well and, despite scoring a creditable 16 goals in 45 appearances, mostly from the bench, did not look like supplanting Ronaldo or Raul in the team. He was sold to Newcastle after a year, for £15m. Jonathan Woodgate (2004-07) Woodgate's spell in Spain was an unhappy one (Nick Potts/PA) England centre-back Woodgate endured a torrid spell in the Spanish capital with a succession of injuries limiting him to just 14 appearances in two years. He did not play at all in his first season and, when his debut belatedly came against Athletic Bilbao in September 2005, he scored an own goal and received a red card. He departed for Middlesbrough in 2006, initially on loan. Gareth Bale (2013-22) Statistically, the Welsh winger belongs among Real's greats having helped the club to five Champions Leagues and three LaLiga titles following his world-record £85m move from Tottenham. Highlights included two goals against Liverpool, one a spectacular overhead kick, in the 2018 Champions League final but supporters were never truly won over amid a perceived rivalry with team-mate and fan favourite Cristiano Ronaldo. Embracing a Welsh fan's flag reading 'Wales. Golf. Madrid. In that order' hardly helped. Caroline Weir (2022-present) Weir (left) has made a strong impression at Real (Jane Barlow/PA) The Scotland international moved to Real from Manchester City in 2022 and enjoyed a superb first season in Liga F, scoring 19 goals in 28 appearances as the team finished runners-up to Barcelona. She also scored against City to knock her old club out of the Champions League. A cruciate ligament injury prevented her building on that last term before her return to action earlier this season. Jude Bellingham (2023-present) It is sometimes difficult to believe Bellingham is still only 21, such is the remarkable impression the England midfielder has made in the game, first at Borussia Dortmund and now at Real. Revelling in an attacking role, he shone from the moment he arrived in Spain, scoring 23 goals and providing 13 assists in his first campaign that produced a LaLiga and Champions League double.
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Yahoo
Boxing club destroyed by arsonists set to reopen
A Gwent boxing club that burnt down in a fire could have a new home soon. Abergavenny Boxing Club, formerly located at Hatherleigh Place, was forced to shut its doors back in September 2024 after a spree of arson attacks broke out across the South Wales area. Advertisement The club was established in 2022 and interacted with at least a hundred members of the community. Since the fire it has been operating at A & J Future Fitness but may be starting afresh in a new venue. Abergavenny Boxing Club's old venue which was destroyed in an arson spree (fire fighters on the scene) (Image: NQ) The boxing club shared the news online: 'Now we have some POTENTIALLY GREAT NEWS. We are on the verge of agreeing a venue which would be sustainable for the long term and in a fantastic setting, for the boxers as well as the coaches. 'We will hope to reopen the other classes run previously too, and we will be looking to expand our outreach as a voluntary organisation.' Advertisement Abergavenny Boxing Club owner and pro boxer 31-year-old Kieran Gething shared this latest development with the Argus. Speaking of the fire he said: 'It was one of the worst days I've had in a long time I was really emotional and I'm still quite sore that there's been no resolution. Hopefully we can get this venue. 'We were shocked when it happened there was no prosecution, but it was confirmed to be arson. We don't know who was behind it.' 31-year-old Kieran Gething of Abergavenny Boxing Club in the ring (Image: Kieran Gething) Despite still feeling upset about the previous venue Kieran's got big plans for the new one. Advertisement He said: 'I'm a lead tutor in a Welsh education coaching programme, and I'm hoping to start a free provision for children under 16 and if successful classes of up to twenty. 'So, a completely free service to all under 16s in Monmouthshire, in association with a local institution.' Kieran said anyone interested in volunteering at the new club should get in touch via email at gething123@ or contact the club on social media.
